The essence of a democratic regime and the rule of law, the characteristics of a free society, and Slovakia’s experience with democracy since 1989 were the topics of discussions held by IVO President Grigorij Mesežnikov with secondary school students in two Slovak towns. 

On September 1, 2026, at the premises of the civic association Atrium in Banská Bystrica, Grigorij Mesežnikov discussed these issues with secondary school students during a workshop. This event was part of an educational program designed to prepare young people for activities that strengthen democracy at the local level. The program aims to help young citizens to translate democratic principles from the realm of high-level politics into their everyday lives. It also seeks to ensure that young people entering full civic life understand democracy as a method of societal governance based on rules, checks on power, the protection of human rights, open discussion, and responsibility. 



Since the morning till the noon of September 11, 2026, Grigorij Mesežnikov discussed democracy with students from various secondary schools at the Bašta cultural and community center in Bardejov. These discussions took place as part of the meetMEfest festival, organized by the Bardejov Community Foundation and the Young Philanthropists initiative. 



The discussion topic—The Fate of Democracy in Slovakia—called for an analytical look at the state of democracy in Slovakia and globally, as well as at prevailing trends regarding the prevalence of democratic regimes among the world's nations. The IVO President focused on how political freedoms are exercised in a democratic society, how institutions function, how free political competition unfolds, the role of the rule of law, and the status of the citizen—including their rights and responsibilities—in their interaction with society.